Intro du c ing th e

6-Speed 6F35
Transmission by David Skora
Valvebody Pro
Tech Director

valve body comes

right off.
The case
splits easily.
When pulling the
front case, which
includes the dif-
ferential ring gear
and pump assem-
bly, the differen-
tial, chain assem-
bly, and some of
the drive shells
and planets came
out, too. This was
probably because
the unit was on its
side. If it were ver-
tical, just the front
case assembly half
would have come
off.
One of the
other unusual fea-
tures for this unit

S
tarting in 2009, Ford Escape,
Mercury Mariner, and Mazda
Tribute will be equipped with a
new 6F35 6-speed transaxle. Externally
it looks like a cross between a CD4E
and an AF21B. Internally it looks like a
little Allison LCT 1000 with three sets
of planets and five sets of clutches. But
the clutches operate the geartrain differ-
ently than an Allison.
This unit may be a preproduction
or a test unit, since there were no exter-
nal tags or labels to identify it. But each
internal part was carefully scribed with
a part number.
Some of the general features of this
unit include:
Figure 1
• A fill tube with a dipstick.
• No access to the filter unless the
case is split.
• A fluid drain plug located at the
bottom of the case.
There’s a pass-through electrical
connector on the side pan. It has a
line tap, and additional taps for check-
ing lube pressure, compensator feed,
3-5-reverse clutch, and 4-5-6 clutch
(figure 1).
Behind the side pan is a valve body
with seven solenoids and electrical con-
nectors for the Transmission Range
sensor (TR) and Turbine Speed Sensor
(TSS). After disconnecting the connec-
tors and removing several bolts, the
is its ability to pro-
vide lubrication when flat towed behind
another vehicle. When the differential
rotates, the chain picks up fluid and
allows some of the fluid to fall into a
trough at the upper part of the case.
With the engine off and being flat
towed, fluid in the trough can flow past
the lube checkball and lubricate the rear
planet assembly (figure 2). If you see
one of these with a planetary failure,
make sure the lube checkball is present
and not stuck.
Inside, the unit looked very clean
and straightforward. It looks like the
only tricky part to assemble would
be the Belleville spring under the 2-6
clutch span ring. Other than that, it

40 GEARS May/June 2010

 We change the parts others only clean
Because Valve Body PRO is
customer driven, we have become
the fastest growing valve body
remanufacturing company. We are
constantly looking for ways to help our
customers solve problems and increase
their business.

A nnouncing SOLPRO, a
development of new products
to fill the needs of shops looking for
the real FIX in linear solenoids.
• SOLPRO, is the first
company dedicated to quality
remanufactured valve body
solenoids.
• SOLPRO solenoids are re-
engineered from the inside out.
• Each solenoid is completely
stripped, remanufactured and SOLPRO solenoids are NOW available for:
tested before it becomes a proven
SOLPRO solenoid. • AW55-50SN
• Behind each SOLPRO solenoid • 09G/TF60-SN
are months of research and
testing which have resulted in • 09D/TR60-SN
designs and parts that have been • AF21/TF-81SC
engineered to exceed OEM
quality. • TF80-SC
• SOLPRO solenoids give you Solenoids are available individually or as master sets.
more options in serving your
customer and your own in-house Depending on supply, solenoids are available on
needs. exchange or R & R bases.

Please contact your supplier or SOLPRO directly.

david@solenoidpro.com • bob@solenoidpro.com
877-611-PROS (7767)
www.solenoidpro.com

SolProGearsFP.indd 1 4/15/10 12:12 PM

Introducing the 6-Speed 6F35 Transmission

looks very easy. The pump assembly

is a basic gear pump in an aluminum
housing. The housing also includes
the pressure regulator valve, converter
control valve, and a couple of relief
checkballs (figure 3).
The 6F35 includes a sprag for first
gear operation in drive range (figure 4).
The sprag is a ratchet or diode type and
looks like it can only go in one way.
The clutch names follow gear
apply, so the low and reverse clutch is
applied in L (Manual 1) or R. The 2-6
clutch only holds in 2nd and 6th gears.
The forward clutch holds in 1st through
4th and is called the 1-2-3-4 clutch.
Valve body issues can be a hassle.
Let’s take a good look at some of the
conditions that might affect it. The
valve body assembly includes seven Figure 2

Figure 3

42 GEARS May/June 2010

Introducing the 6-Speed 6F35 Transmission

solenoids which are a Bosch design and require an oversized valve or a new compensator valves. I’d also suspect
known to be fairly reliable. pump assembly. both the 2-6 clutch regulator and 3-5-R
The engineers really put some At the moment it’s hard to predict clutch regulator valves to wear, since
thought into simplifying the job of which bushings or hard parts are going each valve has to stoke eight times
troubleshooting this valve body. In this to be weak links inside this unit. I’d shifting up to sixth gear and then back
design, there’s one solenoid and one expect the pump assembly to cause down to first (figure 6).
regulator valve that control each of the pressure and lockup problems. During a rebuild, watch out for
four shifting clutches. Keep in mind that As for the valve body, look for the Teflon seal at the back of the stator
each shift is accomplished by releas- worn Actuator Feed Limit (AFL) and shaft. If it’s cut or nicked, you could
ing one clutch and applying have a converter circuit
another. The one shift that leak.
isn’t a clutch-to-clutch shift Use extra care with
is the downshift from 2nd to the Belleville spring and
1st, because the low sprag is snap ring for the 2-6
holding. clutch at the bottom of
In diagnosing a transmis- the case. Someone could
sion for general slips, flares easily damage the snap
or bangs, you’ll probably be ring seat and ruin the
dealing with an overall pres- case.
sure or computer strategy But in general, it
problem. If you’re dealing looks like a fairly easy
with a shift problem that only transmission to deal
affects one clutch, all you with: So until football
need to focus on is one sole- season starts up again,
noid, one regulator valve, or don’t be afraid to tackle
one clutch. a 6F35.
There is an exception to
this: A compensator piston
is mounted inside the clutch
housing on the 3-5-reverse
and 4-5-6 clutch pistons
(figure 5). The compensator
is there to assist the return
springs of both clutches dur- Figure 4
ing release. So if the compen-
sator piston or circuit fails, the
transmission might develop a
slower or faster clutch action
during some situations.
There’s one on-off shift
solenoid. Its job is to apply the
low-reverse clutch and block
the TCC apply circuit. So if
lockup comes on in low or
reverse and kills the motor,
the problem is most likely
a crossleak in the pump, a
stuck TCC control valve, or a
restricted cooler. Clutch Housing
Hydraulically, we see Including
potential for problems in the Compensator
Piston
pump assembly and valve
body. Any wear in the pump
pocket will have a big effect
on pressure, due to the small
size of the pump gears. And
the pressure regulator valve
doesn’t have a wear sleeve,
so any wear in this bore will Figure 5

44 GEARS May/June 2010

 561 560
070 519 510 544 528 036 520 179 211 670 879 050 574 334B 337 862 971 051 961 341 336 554 875 980 970 960 877 102 876
037 177 480 334A 880 122 142*
530
378 047

Input Shaft
507 778 Automatic Transmission Parts Standard Transmission Parts
Stator • Rebuilt Kits
777 Pump Hard Parts Input Clutch Hub O.Dr. / Reverse Input Clutch
Retainer
Parts • OE Manufacturer, Aftermarket New, • Bearing Kits with Syncro Rings
Piston
Underdrive Clutch
Front Cover Plate Body • Gasket Sets
Remanufactured, & Used
232 571 220 • Clutch Drums
570 214 576 234 883 482 558
• Gears & Shafts 568
331 121 101 141 863* 332 333 562
861 140 891 110 130 150 892* 884
968
052 • Shafts Rebuilt
330 Transmissions
978 865 962 852 874

• Front Pumps • Standards

• Planets Clutch Parts
• Valve Bodies • Sach’s & Valeo Clutch Kits (New)
• Complete Line of Miscellaneous parts • Forks

ecad e of S e r v i c
Underdrive Hub Torque Converters
O.Dr. Hub Reverse Hub
• Pilot Bushings & Bearings

AD e. • Complete line of CVC Remanufactured • Clutch Alignment Tools 4th Clutch

2nd / 4th Retainer
Reverse Clutch
Converters Transfer Case Parts
644 567
054 596 235* 616 241 586 873 238 584
583 Soft Parts 592 886 888 887 285
• Gasket & Seals Kits
577 654 664 885*
244 612 247 582 251 154 114 893 987 977 967
27* 053 058
• Master Kits • Overhaul Kits 134
• Banner Kits (Less Steels) • Chains
• Overhaul Kits Shop Supplies & Tools
• Paper/Rubber Kits • Additives
• Filters & Kits • Assembly Lubricants
• Frictions • Builders Benches
Low Roller
Reaction Planet Reverse Planet Input Planet • Steels Input Ring • Lifts Clutch
996 • Bushing Gear
• Parts Washer Soap Low/Rev Clutch

800-940-0197
• Modulators • Rough Service Light Bulbs
760
• Washers • R.T.V. Black, Blue, Clear
7 480 690 895 429 897
271 770 • Bearings 781
• Technical Manuals
317
• Gaskets074 • Tools & Equipment
• Bands • Threadlock

sales@wittrans.com
• Flex Plates & Flywheels
• Speedo Gears
• Mounts 950
Park • Coolers 926B

or buy online at
everse Gear
sing 761
• TeckPak Conversion Kits
M304317B 926
Case • Superior Shift Correction Packages
Ext. Housing 352 379
493
494

www.wittrans.com
5-2
5-3 995
Parts • Detent Cables 927
• Transgo Reprogramming Kits
347 740
5-1 370 352
438 370 Case 010
wl Assy. 436 • Transgo Shift Kits
342
420
846 300
013 540
746 740 765 371
741
V.B.

Remember that Old-Time Service?

Parts 779
782 Valve Body

sion Parts, Inc. www.wittrans.co

Whatever It Takes Does!!!